"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
b.com...
I grew up around radial arm saws. I used them for many years. I did lots
of work with dados and having to cut a lot of stock to length. It worked
great for that. I have used mostly large, commercial 12 inch saws. At one
time, every house construction project had a radial arm saw on site. I knew
this guy who used to fabricate metal trailers which mounted a radial arm saw
on it with a roof. He would just tow it to the site. He built about ten of
them and rented them out.

I have done thousands of cuts on these saws over the years. I have all ten
fingers and toes. Of course, I AM a safety freak. I never understood these
irrational fear about these saws. There are an abundance of ways to injure
yourself with power tools. People do it all the time. I just wonder what
the safety practices are of those folks who fear these saws.

I will be the first to admit that there are more tool options available now
that did not exist way back when. So the saw may not be as needed as it
once was. And I know those old dewalts were a really good piece of
equipment. Folks are buying those and restoring them. I don't have one
now, not enough room. But when I get a bigger shop, I will be putting a RAS
in. I am comfortable with it and I would use it regularly.


=====================

Never used a RAS but wonder how they compare with a good sliding miter saw.
I couldn't live without one, even a cheap one.
Advantages or disadvantages?

--

Eric